Bills not paid, power supply of Panchkula police lines snapped

PANCHKULA: Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) had snapped the power supply of police lines in Moginand in Panchkula for over 12 hours on Friday. UHBVN said that Panchkula police have not paid the outstanding power bills worth Rs 90 lakh (approximately) after which the supply was cut. The power was however restored late in the night, said Panchkula DCP. The power went off at 10 am in approximately 415 domestic consumers of Haryana police residing at police lines Moginand in Panchkula. The sources in the police said UHBVN had said that the shut down was due to maintenance. However, the UHBVN sub-divisional officer, Nirmal Singh then said the power connection has been cut due to non-payment of bills. This led to commotion amongst the police officials and their families and the sources said the matter was taken up with the DCP, Panchkula. Thereafter, an urgent meeting was called between DCP Panchkula and executive officer of UHBVN late in the night and electricity was restored by 10:30 pm, said the sources.

DCP Kamal Deep Goyal said, "We have sought for the calculation of bill from the UHBVN and thereafter, we will see how the rate difference emerged. We are sure that once the rate difference confusion is cleared the outstanding difference will come down." Notably, the cause of disagreement between the UHBVN and Panchkula police is the commercial grade meter fitted at the police lines. A police officer said, The police has been paying the charges as per the domestic consumption tariff. The consumption is charged through sub-meters fitted at the houses of each consumer. But in 2016, UHBVN had installed a main meter with higher capacity of commercial grade charging tariff at flat rate of Rs 8.25 per unit whereas the domestic tariff is charged at Rs 2.50 for 50 units; Rs 3.10 for 100 units; Rs 4.50 up to 300 units; Rs 5.25 upto 500 units. Hence, the outstanding amount accumulated inclusive of surcharge emerged to Rs 90 lakh.